New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-04
NEU.yORE And TIE STATE.

In. getting the High-Liccnsc bill through
the Legislature New DIRK had to rely manly
upon the country members. With few nota
bic exceptions her own representatives DC
traycd and abandoned her. The proof that
they were elected by and paid allegiance to the
saloon element was conclusive. So diametn l.
cally opposed was their attitude to the expressed
will of this community as to give an excuse 10
Democratic Senator for claiming that New
Yori, did not want High License because Ten
of her Senators were opposed to the Dill.
Facts and incidents such as these should DC
reflected upon. They indicate the extent and
depth of political degradation to which thiS
city has been brought 10y the influence or inc
Saloon in Politics. The relation of Newly ork
to the State o-day is one of helpless depend
ence. She is at the mercy of representatives
who do not represent her. but are the agents
of her most dangerous clements She is at the
mercy of an Executive who has hitherto lost
no opportunity to emphasize his close conncc-
ton with the worst foes Of good government
who has been aiding and abettng In swarm
Of shameful raids upon the municipal treas
ury: who has been tie opal" of score oil
political strikers aiming at the paralysis OF
;nsticc in our courts. at the overthrow Of safe
guards in cur departments, at the reward OF
dirty work in some branches OF our locai
government.
Tho Saloon has been allowed its own
way 1t and the kind of politicians 1t preeds
have been permitted to control our pubic
affairs. We have let the rum power thrust us
from the causcway, usmp our rights, assume
our functions. and constitute itself our die
tator. Once and again, when the results OF
this course had become actually intolerable, VIC
have been driven TO revolt, and have Then as
serted ourselves for a time with authority
But the spasm of activity has soon ceased, and
with rcversion to the old Indifference the old
evil conditions have returned and resumed
control. And now when our conscienccs are
reused and the Saloon curse is made plain to
us we find our attempts at reform hlndered
and probably bailled by the grip our enemy
has obtained upon the whole machinery OF
legislation and administration.
| The Saloon in Politics gave us Governor
Hill as we'll as a legislative represent
alton which, for the most part Is at
once an insult and burlesque. The
same power is now doubtless bringing all its
energies to bear to secure the veto Of the High
License bill !; and considering whom it has to
do with there is no reason to apprchcnd that
the effort will entail exhaustion We are in
deed in vicious circle from which escape is
impossible until we make up our mind to fight
the enemy on his own ground to drive the
Saloon out Of politics as beginning and not
as an end of reform. For if we permit the
Saloon 10 choose our representatives. and TO
control the Executive, we may aglta,c until
eternity without making any real Roadway.
We shall always be stopped before We can OBJ
tain legislative relief The Democrats in the
Legislature have already shown us what sub
lection to the Saloon in Politics really implies,
and it is generally believed that Governor
Hill will experience no scrupcs in vetoIng the
most urgent and popular measure OF The
session, knowing that in doing so he will earn
the approval of TIE rum power. 1t is, indeed.
biting commentary upon our capacity 1or
self government that this great and rich CITY,
so full of intelligence and energy and ability OF
every kind, should be literally under the feet
of the Saloon element, and helpless in the
hands of a Governor who thinks his way TO the
Presidency lies through craven obedience to
that dcmoralizng and dangerous power.